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About our guidance
This guidance replaces all previous versions of the ACCC's avian influenza industry guidance.
This guidance applies when a government authority makes a mandatory housing order or recommends voluntary housing for free range poultry egg and meat producers because of avian influenza detections.
We will continue to monitor the situation and may update this guidance if circumstances change.
Avian influenza detections and housing orders or recommendations made by a government authority
The Free Range Egg Labelling Information Standard,acknowledges that there are specific circumstances when hens may be prevented from accessing an outdoor range but can still have their eggs described as ‘free range eggs’. This includes when hens are prevented from accessing the outdoor range for a time that is ‘not unreasonable’ and because:
- the hens are being medicated or otherwise cared for, or
- there are exceptional circumstances that pose a significant risk to the hens’ health or safety.
However, this information standard does not apply to free range poultry meat or free range eggs not produced by hens, such as duck and quail eggs.
To provide certainty to producers, our guidance extends to all free range poultry eggs and meat. This includes products not covered by the information standard.
No enforcement action on free range representations affected by housing order or recommendation to house
The ACCC will not take enforcement action against free range producers for free range claims on labels or packaging if they are affected by a mandatory housing order or voluntary housing recommendation made because of avian influenza detections. This applies for up to 90 days while the housing order or recommendation is in place.
Alternative labelling
During avian influenza detections, mandatory housing orders or voluntary housing recommendations may be in place for an extended time.
Producers should be prepared with alternative labelling and consumer information if affected by a mandatory housing order or voluntary housing recommendation beyond 90 days.
The alternative labels and information should make it clear that the eggs or meat were produced from housed poultry (if the poultry was or may have been housed).